In Depth For lack of a better description, Castorocauda was basically like an otter or beaver that lived during the Jurassic. However, while Castorocauda superficially looks like them, the genus is in no way a direct relation to them, Instead, Castorocauda is what is known as a docodont mammaliform, and a member of a group … Read more
In Depth As far as cynodonts go Tritylodon was fairly unremarkable and very similar to the generic form of other cynodonts. Tritylodon had a round body and short limbs, adaptations for a burrowing lifestyle. Furthermore Tritylodon is noted for having enlarged incisor teeth which still would have been partly visible when the mouth was closed, … Read more
In Depth Eriphostoma is a little known genus of gorgonopsid, but one that is important to the study of them given that Eriphostoma may well represent the earliest known gorgonopsid. There has been speculation that another genus called Broomisaurus and known only from fragmentary fossils may be junior synonym to Eriphostoma. Further Reading Further reading- … Read more
In Depth Geikia is a genus of dicynodont known to have lived during the latest stage of the Permian. Like other dicynodonts Geikia would have been a plant eater with two prominent tusks projecting down from the upper jaw. Further Reading - On some New Reptiles from the Elgin Sandstones. - Transactions of the Royal … Read more
In Depth Dvinia is a genus of small cynodont that lived in Russia during the late Permian. Dvinia is known to have lived in the same habitats as Dicynodon and Scutosaurus as well as the large predator Inostrancevia. Further Reading - Diagnoses of the new forms of vertebrates and plants from the upper Permian of … Read more
In Depth Botucaraitherium is a genus of cynodont that lived in South America during the late Triassic. Further Reading - A new prozostrodontian cynodont (Therapsida) from the Late Triassic Riograndia Assemblage Zone (Santa Maria Supersequence) of Southern Brazil. - Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ci�ncias 86(4):1673-1691. - M. B. Soares, A. G. Martinelli & T. … Read more
In Depth Tetracynodon is a genus of therocephalian therapsid that is noted as having lived through the Permian/Triassic extinction event, something that was probably the most dramatic extinction level event recorded in our planets history, even more devastating than the extinction that killed off the dinosaurs. One thing of note is that the Permian species … Read more
In Depth Lycaenops acquired its name from the striking similarity between it and modern wolves. Although Lycaenops itself was what is loosely termed a mammal like reptile, its similarity to wolves is most likely a case of convergent evolution. Some sources about prehistoric animals also go one further and claim that Lycaenops also hunted in … Read more
In Depth Stahleckeria is a genus of very large dicynodont therapsid that lived in both South America and Africa. Like other dicynodonts, Stahleckeria was a herbivore that ate low growing vegetation. When fully grown Stahleckeria would have had few predators, though large rauisuchians would have still been a potential threat. Further Reading - Lieferung 1. … Read more
In Depth Chiniquodon is a genus of cynodont that lived in South America during the Early Triassic. Most Chiniquodon fossils are Anisian to Ladinian in age, with a few associated with Carnian deposits. This has fuelled speculation that the disappearance of cynodonts like Chiniquodon coincides with the rise of early dinosaurs, and hence the cynodonts … Read more